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Questionable ethics: a textbook case

When Chris Thompson received a free textbook
in his Eyes, Nose and Throat class he took a look at the logo in
the corner and rolled his eyes.

The symbol was for Daiichi Pharmaceutical Corporation, which
distributes an ear infection solution called FLOXIN Otic. The
company gave a grant for the book to be updated and distributed.

"Primary Care Otolaryngology" was given to second-year medical
students on Oct. 19 and is part of a much bigger problem - the
unhealthy collusion of medical education and the pharmaceutical
industry, Thompson said.

The University of Minnesota doesn't have guidelines in place to
restrict such gifts, said Mark Paller, executive vice dean of the
medical school. A draft of a conflict of interest policy will be
finished in the next couple of weeks which probably would not allow
gifts to be given to students, Paller said.

He said the textbook is an attempt by the industry to curry
favor with future prescribing physicians.

"If [the company] really wanted to do it for educational
purposes, they would give a donation to the university and allow
the curriculum committee to decide how to use the money," Paller
said.

Center for Bioethics professor John Song was a member of the
conflict of interest task force created by former Medical School
Dean Deborah Powell. The task force's final report from August 2008
recommended against gifts like this, Song said.

But the report was condensed into a two-page document that left
out the suggested policy.

Song said pharmaceutical influence in education has become less
common in the past few years.

Thompson said he has not received any other textbooks with
pharmaceutical logos or heard of any other instances of
gift-giving.

Third-year medical student Hannah Shacter said to her knowledge
she never received any gifts from pharmaceutical companies.

Paller said the students can choose not to take the book.

"Medical students are mature adults, they can make their own
decision," he said. "It's not as if their diploma has a
pharmaceutical logo on it or something like that."

Thompson said it is difficult to tell whether the material in
the book is unbiased.

The basis of the book was written by Gregory Staffel in 1996 and
was revised and edited by members of the American Academy of
Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery. The educational content
does not mention Daiichi.

But the beginning of each chapter says Daiichi Pharmaceutical
Corporation distributes FLOXIN Otic solution and gave a grant to
the American Academy of Otolaryngology for the revisions and
distribution of the book.

"The authors and editor had sole responsibility for the subject
matter and editorial content," the introduction by Daiichi
Pharmaceutical says.

Although the textbook's content may not push the pharmaceutical
company's product, having the mark of the company creates an
"unfavorable impression," Thompson said.

It's important to convey that "We are professional people, and
the medicine we practice is not biased, is not influenced by the
industry," he said.